Hello Hogan,
I'd defiantly go speak to your local flight training facility.
I'm only 15, and have decided I wanted to get my RA-Aus Certificate after flying commercially and a lot of online research. One of the first things I did when the new flight training operators came to Wangaratta (after the previous one closed) was orgainsed a meeting with an Instructor (This wasn't really hard for me as there is only one organisation on Wangaratta that does flight training, Haha) she was very nice and went through a lot of my options, and being able to build a plan to my budget, time, ect. She suggest if my budget was tight I could fly 30mins a week or something. But I decided to keep looking for jobs, which I have finally acquired now, and have started to save (quite quickly may I say) so I'll be up there in no time. BUT Back to topic about bookwork and stuff,there is theory components and this lady instructor said I could start theory classes or even do some exams before I start actual flying lessons so what I did was purchased a Basic Aeronautical Knowledge Theory Book from them, and have been reading through little bits at a time. So that I will have some understanding. So you could start theory now, purchase and have a read of the BAK Book and even if you like start exams. But go have a talk to the local flight training organisation, and see what they have to say and offer.
Not sure if that helped, but hopefully it did, haha.
-Jack